News Briefs

Bob Evans Restaurants has a new owner.

New York-based investment firm 4x4 Capital has acquired the 78-year-old, Ohio-based family-dining chain from Golden Gate Capital. Bob Evans has more than 400 locations in 18 states. Golden Gate acquired the company in 2017 for $565 million.

Bob Evans CEO Mickey Mills and her team will continue to lead the restaurant company. 4x4 co-founder and partner Gustavo Assumpção will serve as executive board chair.

"We are proud of what we accomplished in partnership with Golden Gate Capital and excited to begin this next chapter with 4x4’s hands-on partnership,” said Mills. “Together, we look forward to investing in and enhancing our operations, guest experience and brand — with a continued focus on stability, partnership and long-term value creation.”

“What truly sets the Bob Evans brand apart is its distinctive hospitality, welcoming ambiance and fresh, flavorful food — delivering real value for the whole family,” said Gustavo Assumpção. “We look forward to partnering with Mickey and the team to maximize long-term growth.”

Walmart Inc. is making a major financial commitment in the latest phase of its regional distribution center automation program.

The discount giant plans to invest more than $330 million to upgrade its regional distribution center in Opelousas, La. The phased, multi-year project is part of a nationwide Walmart initiative to automate all 42 of its regional distribution centers (RDCs).

To support the project, the state of Louisiana provided a competitive incentives package, including a $10 million performance-based grant tied to equipment investments. Once complete, the Opelousas facility will be able to ship nearly twice the number of cases as a traditional distribution center, strengthening supply chain efficiency for Walmart stores throughout the region.

The company is expected to retain its workforce and transition roles toward higher-skilled positions in automation, robotics and advanced technology. 

RDC initiative the discount giant launched in July 2021 and extended to include all 42 RDCs in May 2022.  

[READ MORE: Walmart expands regional distribution automation strategy]

According to Walmart, new technology from Symbiotic it has been implementing enables it to double the number of cases processed per hour compared to a traditional RDC. By the end of 2025, the retailer expected that roughly 65% of its stores would be receiving merchandise from high-tech distribution centers. 

Walmart’s RDC automation initiative is part of broader digital transformation effort in its supply chain aimed at increasing the speed, efficiency and safety at which products are distributed. 

"Louisiana and Opelousas have been great partners for nearly 25 years," said Mike Gray, senior VP of Walmart supply chain. "By adding robotics and automation, we’re transforming how we serve our stores and customers. This investment allows us to grow alongside the community while creating new opportunities for career growth for our associates."

After 30 years, Caribbean-inspired dining chain Bahama Breeze will soon be gone with the wind.

In a Feb. 3 press release, Darden Restaurants Inc., the brand’s parent company, shared that its 28 locations were “no longer a strategic priority.” Darden will close 14 of the Bahama Breeze locations, while converting the other 14 locations to other brands in the Darden portfolio, which include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House and more.

The restaurants that will close will continue operating through April 5, 2026, while the company anticipates converting the remaining locations over the next 12-18 months. Darden added that it is not disclosing which brands the locations will be converted to.

The company said that it did not expect the closures and conversions to have a material impact on its financial results.

[READ MORE: Olive Garden to 'significantly expand' across Canada]

Founded in 1996, Bahama Breeze specializes in Caribbean-inspired seafood, chicken, steaks and more, while serving tropical drinks in a themed environment. More than half of its locations are in Florida. Last year, 15 of the chain’s restaurants closed as economic pressures impacted the casual dining sector.

Headquartered in Orlando, Darden’s portfolio includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Chuy's, Seasons 52 and Eddie V's.

A major Canadian toy retailer is restructuring operations under court supervision.

Toys"R"Us Canada, which is owned by Putnam Investments and has operated independently from former parent Toys”R”Us since 2021, is receiving creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) pursuant to an initial order granted by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. 

CCAA protection enables Canadian corporations with more than $5 million in debt to restructure financially with court approval while avoiding immediate bankruptcy. In a press release, Toys"R"Us Canada said it will “evaluate its strategic alternatives and implement certain restructuring initiatives,” including reducing its retail footprint. 

All of the retailer’s currently active stores will remain open during this process. However, a banner on the homepage of its e-commerce site states that its web store is unavailable due to the CCAA filing. Customers can still browse items, but functionality to add them to an online cart for purchase is currently deactivated. 

The initial order provides for a stay of proceedings initial period of 10 days, subject to extension thereafter as the Court deems appropriate. As part of its restructuring process, Toys”R”Us Canada has appointed restructuring expert Neil Taylor as chief restructuring officer to assist the company as it navigates the CCAA process. Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc. has been appointed as the CCAA monitor by the court.

According to the Edmonton Journal, Toys"R"Us Canada faces $160 million in debts and "tens of millions" of dollars in outstanding gift card obligations. In court filings, the company reportedly said its revenue has "significantly declined" due to increasing competition from big-box and online retailers and it has "severe liquidity and working‑capital constraints."

[READ MORE: Toys"R"Us Canada breach reportedly exposes shopper data]

The retailer currently operates 22 brick-and-mortar stores across Canada.

Consumers are already bracing for higher prices for this year’s holidays.

According to Numerator’s 2026 Holiday Intentions Preview, most consumers plan to celebrate Christmas (92% of U.S. consumers), Thanksgiving (90%), Mother’s Day (79%), Easter (75%) and Independence Day (72%) in 2026. Those surveyed anticipate that rising prices will impact their holiday shopping this year, with consumers saying their shopping for Christmas (88%), Halloween (85%) and Thanksgiving (84%) will see the greatest impact. 

The holidays that are planned one to three months in advance are Christmas (83% of intended celebrators), Halloween (67%), Hanukkah (60%) and Thanksgiving (50%). Other holidays are more spontaneous. Cinco de Mayo (35%) and St. Patrick’s Day (26%) are planned one to two days in advance.

[READ MORE: Survey: Higher costs to keep Valentine's Day spending strong]

When asked by Numerator how much effort or enthusiasm typically goes into celebrating the holiday on a scale of one to five, Christmas and Halloween saw the highest levels of enthusiasm (40% and 50%, respectively, rating the holiday as a four or five). Conversely, Labor Day (47%), New Year’s Eve (46%) and Memorial Day (45%) were rated as more casual celebrations (rating the holiday as a one or two).

Food is the most popular item consumers say they will purchase for 12 out of 14 key holidays, led by Thanksgiving (86%), Labor Day (83%), Independence Day (83%), Memorial Day (81%) and New Year’s Eve (78%). 

Unsurprisingly, candy is the top intended purchase for Halloween (79%) and Valentine’s Day (55%), while alcohol sees its highest percentage of celebrators who intend to purchase on Cinco de Mayo (57%) and New Year’s Eve (52%). 

Numerator surveyed more than 5,300 consumers for its 2026 Holiday Intentions Preview.